One all inclusive shop or multiple shops? Which is the better option?

I have a site that sells telecom equipment, it has a decent amount of products on it (400+) and about 10+ different brands. Would it be more effective (as far as SERP placement) if I made individual sites that concentrate on only one brand each per say or one type of equipment each? I am wondering if since the site is so encompassing, if that is causeing the SEs to think it lacks focus. Do you get what I am saying?

More likely it is your design. Large sites properly design target topics like laser beams. It's tough, but a site well designed like that is worth its weight in Platinum.


To answer your main question: The best option would be both. Create your large site (with better focus) and then create small sites based on your top 20 best sellers.

I agree that multiple approaches to getting traffic and SERP position can be useful. However, for retail I have settled on the large *** kicking site as the model instead of a flock of hotdog stands. I've done a bit of both approaches and although the small sites can do well, my big site always seems to beat my small sites - even if they have the same level of SEO and even the same template.

The bottom line for me is the big site... big sites get more respect in the SERPs, they give your visitors immediate access to ALL of your products, they take less time to maintain, you don't have to chase links for a lot of site, and one big site is less expensive when paying for shopping carts, hosting and merchant accounts. I think that they make you more credible to the customer.... and don't forget that some customers buy multiple brands - so your average sale will likely be higher with the big site - and that hits your bottom line in an impressive way.

I am sold on the big site, but would like to hear from others who have experimented a lot and still hold contrary opinion. Maybe you can convince me to remodel a couple hotdog stands.

EGOL -

I have also tried the multiple site method (mini-sites). It's not only less useful for SEO purposes, it hurts you in two other big areas. The first is content - less time and dedication to one site's content means lower quality and amount - bad for SEO, bad for business, bad all around. The second is branding - eventually, we all want to be the next Amazon.com for our sector - why would you hurt your own branding with mini-shops? Even if there is some SEO value to the linking strategy, it cannot be worth going multi-mini. I haven't done it since I joined up here.

Well perhaps the success comes from the implementation. In many cases, it is possible to successfully create a "mini-site" (not exactly what I would have called it) that focuses and therefore can actually create credibility.

It's also possible to link those mini-sites in a very appropriate manner to the "mothership" so-to-speak. Another advantage is that of focused branding.

Rand, you aren't really promoting a brand of any kind as far as I can tell. Egol, I'm not entirely sure where your genres lay.

Here is an unarguable example of what I'm talking about:
The Mother ship - http://www.pepsico.com/
http://www.pepsiworld.com
http://www.dietpepsi.com/
http://www.pepsivanilla.com/home.php
http://www.pepsitwist.com/?or=pw
etc...

Now I realize that this is a major brand, but it's also possible to do the same thing with less-known (or even unknown) brands. I've seen this methodology work too many times, and have had too much success with this type of set-up myself to dismiss it.

There are similar examples in elctronics, telecommunications, health (both natural and pharma), etc...


If you still don't think this methodology works, you could always go ask Ken Evoy. I believe he's successfully pulled this off in a similar way. The rest you can search for yourself, but they're out there...and they work.
With a little imagination, it's possible to make this kind of scenario, or variations of this theme, successful in just about any situation.

I'm amazed at you Rand, it's unlike you to be so broad sweeping. I've heard similar statements from people. You know:
Stay away from the stock market. I got in once and lost my shirt.
Real estate is a fools game.
Etc...

Just because it didn't work once, doesn't mean it won't the next time with a different approach.

I am going with the one LARGE site that is scalable. Content is king so the more products pages you have with content the more chances you have too get one of those pages in the top 20. Make sure you get quality hosting also so your response time from the server is as low as you can afford. The faster the spiders can get through you site the better. Also make sure you do offline marketing too. In this day and age you can't just sit back waiting for people too flood you site, you have too go out and get them.

.02
-L

AMEN! Great point and more important than any of the ones listed in my shotgun post.

I agree that a single larger site would be better. Sine it's all telecom equipment, the focus is there. And a lerger site means more pages, more content, and likely more inbound links - all contributing to an "authority" site.

Anything can work just depends what resources you have available. If you dont have as much time, then go with the big site and you can build a brand for that site. If you have time, then develop smaller sites as your larger site gets established. Try focusing on a product that is not getting results on your larger site. This way you are not competing with yourself.

Large site all the way.. I have done the mini-sites, and have found that the large sites do 1000% better, in traffic, marketing, CPM. ;)

definately go with a larger site, but i must admit i do like the 'shopping mall' type of application.

oscommerce has a hack like this where you can admin multiple smaller shops under one administration. and one large shopping mall type of thing.

later on you could also host other peoples stores, take care of all of the payments etc.. and generate a % earnings for yourself for the trouble... thought about this a few times myself.